Mechanical stirring for highly efficient gas injection refining

In gas injection refining processes,wide dispersion of small bubbles in the bath is indispensable for high refining efficiency.Eccentric mechanical stirring with unidirectional impeller rotation was tested using a water model for pursuing better bubble disintegration and dispersion.Effects of various factors on bubble disintegration and dispersion were investigated.These factors were stirring mode,eccentricity and rotation speed,nozzle structure,nozzle immersion depth,and gas flow rate.Gas injection from a nozzle at the end of the impeller shaft and from an immersed lance was studied.Under eccentric stirring,a vortex was formed away from the shaft.Small bubbles were produced in the strong turbulence or high shear stress field near the rotating impeller and moved in the direction to the vortex keeping up with the macroscopic flow induced by the mechanical stirring.Thus small bubbles could disperse widely in the bath under eccentric stirring with unidirectional rotation.

Dispersion of SiC particles in mechanical stirring of A356-SiC_p liquid

In order to clarify the dispersion of SiC particles in straight-blade mechanical stirring of A1-SiCp liquid, the dispersion of SiC particles in A356-3.5% SiCp （volume fraction） liquid in a cylindrical crucible was studied. The relationship between rotating speed of stirrer and radial relative deviation of SiCp content in A356 liquid between the center and the periphery of crucible was established in the conditions of 35° for the gradient angle a of blade and 10 mm/s for the speed of moving up and down of stirrer. The results show that the radial relative deviation of SiCp content increases gradually with increasing the rotating speed of stirrer. When the rotating speed of stirrer is 200 r/min, the vertical dispersion of SiC particles in A356 liquid is even, but the radial relative deviation of SiCp content is 0.24. Consequently, the northomogeneous dispersion of SiC particles in A356 liquid is mainly resulted from the nonhomogeneous radial dispersion of SiC particles.

Cold Model Study on Mg Desulfurization of Hot Metal Under Mechanical Stirring

The new method of in-situ desulfurization with mechanical stirring of new type impellers was introduced, in which the bubble＇s dispersion and disintegration of magnesium vapor were the key to boosting the desulfurization efficiency and increasing the utilization rate of magnesium. Effects of different new type of impellers on bubble dis persion and disintegration were studied through bubble image analysis, gas-liquid mass transfer, and power con- sumption levels of different impeller structures. The results showed that the sloped swept-back blade impeller-2 pro- duces optimal bubble＇s dispersion and disintegration, as well as higher volumetric mass transfer coefficient and CO2 gas utilization while consuming the least power. Numerical simulation result with Fluent software also showed that the sloped swept-back blade impeller-2 has higher turbulent kinetic energy and better velocity distribution than the other two impellers.

Improvement of Impeller Blade Structure for Gas Injection Refining under Mechanical Stirring

Abstract： The impeller blade structure for gas injection refining under mechanical stirring has been explored by water model experiments. A sloped swept-back blade impeller is＇proposed for the purpose. The central part of the impeller is disk- or plate-shaped, and the blades are fitted to the side of the disk or plate. In addition, a disk is put on the top side of the impeller blades. The impeller can strengthen the radial and downward flow between the blades and weaken the swirl flow in the zone above the impeller. These effects on flow phenomena are favorable for disintegration and wide dispersion of bubbles which are injected from a nozzle attached to the center of the underside of the impeller. In addition, the sloped swept-back impeller requires less power consumption. The impeller shaft should be placed away from the vessel center so as to disperse the injected bubbles widely in the bath under mechanical stirring even with unidi- rectional impeller rotation and without installing baffles. The number of gas holes in the nozzle and the direction of gas injection have a little effect on the bubble disintegration and dispersion in the bath. Highly efficient gas injection refining can be established under the conditions of proper impeller size, larger nozzle immersion depth, larger eccen- tricity and rotation speed of the impeller. The sloped swept back blade impeller can decrease the power consumption and vet improve the bubble disintegration and wide dist^ersion in the bath.

Radial Distribution of SiC Particles in Mechanical Stirring of A356-SiC_p Liquid

The mechanical stirring of A356-2.5 vol.% SiCp liquid was conducted in a cylindrical crucible by a straight-blade stirrer. The radial distribution of SiC particles in A356 liquid was studied under the conditions of 25 deg. for gradient angle α of blade and 10 mm/s for speed of moving up and down of stirrer, The results show that there exists a nonlinear relationship between rotating speed of stirrer and radial relative deviation of SiCp content in A356 liquid between the center and the periphery of crucible. The greater the rotating speed of stirrer is, the bigger the radial relative deviation of SiCp content in A356 liquid becomes and the more nonhomogeneous the radial distribution of SiC particles in A356 liquid turns. In addition, when the rotating speed of stirrer is about 200 r/min, the vertical distribution of SiC particles in A356 liquid is relative uniform. It can be seen that the nonhomogeneous distribution of SiC particles in A356 liquid results from the nonhomogeneous radial distribution of SiC particles in A356 liquid in straight-blade mechanical stirring ultimately.

Experimental Research of External Desulfurization in Situ Mechanical Stirring

This paper presents a new idea about desulfurization with in-situ mechanical stirring method on the basis of desulfurization by single blow grain magnesium and KR method, that is, the inner gases carry the magnesium vapor formed in-site in molten iron by magnesium-based desulfurization, and bubble dispersed and disintegrated under the condition of mechanical stirring, thence to improve the efficiency of desulfurization by single blow grain magnesium .It has been proved by research of cold water model experiment that the bubble dispersion and disintegration can not only improve the desulphurization efficiency but also increase the utilization rate of magnesium. Obviously, the bubble dispersion and disintegration of magnesium vapor is the key problem in improving the desulphurization efficiency and increasing the utilization rate of magnesium. Thus the research focus on exploring the performance of bubble dispersion and disintegration on the base of refining process and gas-liquid mass transfer. According to the literature and cold water model experimental result basing on principle of similitude, the influencing factors and interaction of bubble dispersion and disintegration have been studied from the perspectives of physical and numerical simulation. The study would provide the theoretical and experimental data for the new method of desulfurization with in-situ mechanical stirring.

The Uniform Distribution of SiC Particles in an A356-SiC_p Composite Produced by the Tilt-blade Mechanical Stirring

The tilt-blade mechanical stirring of A356-2.5vol.%SiCp liquid was conducted in a cylindrical crucible to solve the problem of nonhomogeneous radial distribution of SiC particles in conventional straight-blade mechanical stirring. The radial distribution of SiC particles in A356 liquid was studied under the conditions of 25° for horizontal tilt angle α of the blade, 200 r/min for rotating speed of stirrer and 10 mm/s for speed of moving up and down of stirrer. The results show that there exists a nonlinear relationship between circumferential tilt angle β of the blade and radial relative deviation d of SiCp content in A356 liquid. When β is smaller than 20°, the d of SiCp content in A356 liquid between the center and the periphery of crucible decreases with increasing β. Conversely, when β is bigger than 26°, d increases with increasing β. Only when β is about 20°, d can be equal to nought i.e. uniform radial distribution of SiC particles can be realized. It can be seen that the nonhomogeneous radial distribution of SiC particles in conventional straight-blade mechanical stirring can be eliminated in this tilt-blade mechanical stirring of A356-SiCp liquid.

Bubble behavior in cylindrical and square vessels under centric mechanical stirring

Water model experiments were carried out to investigate the bubble behavior in cylindrical and square vessels under centric mechanical stirring.The bubble behavior in the square vessel was investigated in detail by using a high-speed camera to record the transient images of the bubbles.An image analysis software was used to obtain the bubble diameter.The results showed that the centric mechanical stirring in the square vessel was suitable for breakage and dispersion of bubbles,but not suitable for that in the cylindrical vessel.Increasing the impeller blade length and impeller rotation speed was beneficial to disintegrate and disperse bubbles widely.The bubble diameter decreased with the increase in the Weber number and increased slightly with the increase in the modified Froude number.The dimensionless correlation equation of bubble diameter was obtained by the dimensional analysis method.

Corrosion,mechanical and microstructural properties of aluminum 7075-carbon nanotube nanocomposites for robots in corrosive environments

The introduction of in-pipe robots for sewage cleaning provides researchers with new options for pipe inspection,such as leakage,crack,gas,and corrosion detection,which are standard applications common in the current industrial scenario.The question that is frequently overlooked in all these cases is the inherent resistance of the robots to corrosion.The mechanical,microstructural,and corrosion properties of aluminum 7075 incorporated with various weight percentages(0,0.5wt%,1wt%,and 1.5wt%)of carbon nanotubes(CNTs)are discussed.It is fabricated using a rotational ultrasonication with mechanical stirring(RUMS)-based casting method for improved corrosion resistance without compromising the mechanical properties of the robot.1wt%CNTs-aluminum nanocomposite shows good corrosion and mechanical properties,meeting the requirements imposed by the sewage environment of the robot.

Constitutive Model of Friction Stir Weld with Consideration of its Inhomogeneous Mechanical Properties

In practical engineering, finite element（FE） modeling for weld seam is commonly simplified by neglecting its inhomogeneous mechanical properties. This will cause a significant loss in accuracy of FE forming analysis, in particular, for friction stir welded（FSW） blanks due to the large width and good formability of its weld seam. The inhomogeneous mechanical properties across weld seam need to be well characterized for an accurate FE analysis. Based on a similar AA5182 FSW blank, the metallographic observation and micro-Vickers hardness analysis upon the weld cross-section are performed to identify the interfaces of different sub-zones, i.e., heat affected zone（HAZ）, thermal-mechanically affected zone（TMAZ） and weld nugget（WN）. Based on the rule of mixture and hardness distribution, a constitutive model is established for each sub-zone to characterize the inhomogeneous mechanical properties across the weld seam. Uniaxial tensile tests of the AA5182 FSW blank are performed with the aid of digital image correlation（DIC） techniques. Experimental local stress-strain curves are obtained for different weld sub-zones. The experimental results show good agreement with those derived from the constitutive models, which demonstrates the feasibility and accuracy of these models. The proposed research gives an accurate characterization of inhomogeneous mechanical properties across the weld seam produced by FSW, which provides solutions for improving the FE simulation accuracy of FSW sheet forming.

Effect of Stirring Velocity in Micro Fused-Casting for Metal on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of A356 Aluminum Alloy Slurry

A novel micro fused-casting for metal（MFCM） process for producing A356 aluminum alloy slurry was proposed. MFCM means that the refined metal slurry is pressed out from the outlet of bottom of crucible to the horizontal movable plate. With the aid of 3D manufacturing software, the melt is solidified and formed layer by layer. The stirring could keep the ingredients and the heat diffusion of metal slurry uniform in the crucible due to the shear force breaking down the dendrite arms. The solidus and liquidus temperatures of A356 alloy were 559.2 and 626.3 ℃, respectively, which were measured by differential scanning calorimetry（DSC）. Effect of different stirring velocities of MFCM on the microstructure and mechanical properties of A356 slurry was investigated with the pouring temperature controlled at 620 ℃. The microstructure and mechanical performance were the best when the stirring velocity was 1 200 r/min in MFCM. The microstructures of the A356 aluminum alloy slurry were mainly composed of fine spherical or rose grains. The average roundness and average grain size reached 2.2 and 41 μm and the tensile strength of A356 alloy slurry reached 207.8 MPa, while the average vickers hardness was 81.1 HV.

Effects of different friction stir welding conditions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of copper plates

Friction stir welding is a new and innovative welding method used to fuse materials. In this welding method, the heat generated by friction and plastic flow causes significant changes in the microstructure of the material, which leads to local changes in the mechanical properties of the weld. In this study, the effects of various welding parameters such as the rotational and traverse speeds of the tool on the microstructural and mechanical properties of copper plates were investigated; additionally, Charpy tests were performed on copper plates for the first time. Also, the effect of the number of welding passes on the aforementioned properties has not been investigated in previous studies. The results indicated that better welds with superior properties are produced when less heat is transferred to the workpiece during the welding process. It was also found that although the properties of the stir zone improved with an increasing number of weld passes, the properties of its weakest zone, the heat-affected zone, deteriorated.

Mechanisms of joint formation throughout semisolid stir welding of AZ91 magnesium alloy

Joining in the semisolid state is considered a possible method to join alloys to each other. The mechanisms taking part in semisolid stir welding of AZ91 alloys were investigated. Two 7.5 mm-thick AZ91 pieces and a 2 ram-thick Mg-25%Zn interlayer piece were placed in a heating plate. After holding for 3 min at a desired temperature, the weld seam was stirred by a rotational tool. The heating plate was travelled on a trolley at a constant speed of 4.6 cm/min. In addition, one sample was welded without interlayer. Evolution of welding as a function of stirring rate, tool shape and temperature was studied throughout this welding process with scanning electron and optical microscopes. Interlayer decreases the joining temperature and assists to investigate the possible semisolid stir welding mechanisms. Increasing temperature and stirring rate, and using round stirrer instead of grooved stirrer increase the stir zone width. The results show that some possible mechanisms are helpful to achieve a proper metallurgical bonding in the welding process, such as oxide layer disruption, liquid phase blending, globule joining, and liquid penetration to the base metal, merging a group of globule into stir zone from the base metal.

Influence of stirring speed on SiC particles distribution in A356 liquid

A straight-blade mechanical stirrer was designed to stir A356-3.5vol%SiCp liquid in a cylindrical crucible with the capability of systematically investigating the influence of rotating speed of stirrer on the distribution of SiC particles in A356 liquid. The experimental results show that the vertical distribution of SiC particles in A356 liquid can be uniform when the rotating speed of stirrer is 200 rpm, but the radial distribution of SiC particles in A356 liquid is always nonhomogeneous regardless of the rotating speed of stirrer. The radial centdfugalization ratio of SiC particles in A356 liquid between the center and the periphery of crucible increases with the rotating speed of stirrer. The results were explained in the light of SiC particles motion subject to a combination of stirring and centrifugal effect.

Influence of Sb modification on microstructures and mechanical properties of Mg_2 Si/AM60 composites

The semi-solid antiburning AZ61-1.0%Y magnesium alloy slurry with fine circular solid phase was fabricated by a novel type continuous mechanical stirring in this work.The microstructure of the semisolid slurry was characterized by a metallography microscope.The results show that the fine circular solid phase distributes uniformly in the slurry when the stirring temperature ranges from 600 to 605℃.With the increase of the stirring velocity,the size of the solid phase becomes smaller and smaller.With the increase of the stirring time,the size of solid phase gets finer,but if the stirring time is longer than the critical time,it will be coarsened abnormally.The mechanical properties of semi-solid AZ61-1.0%Y alloy are superior to those of the normally casting magnesium alloy.

Effect of welding parameters on semisolid stir welding of Mg-9Al-1Zn magnesium alloy

Semisolid stir welding of AZ91 was investigated with focus on the joining temperature and rotational speed. An Mg-25%Zn interlayer was located between two AZ91 pieces and the system was heated up to the semisolid state of base metal and interlayer. The weld seam was stirred using a drill-tip at different joining temperatures and rotational speeds. Optical and scanning electron microscopes were employedto study microstructure, cavity formation, and segregation. Hardness profile and shear punch test werealso employed to rank the welds based on their quality and homogeneity. Results showed that the lowest cavity content （2.1%） withthemaximum ultimate shear strength （about 188 MPa） was obtained in weld with the joining temperatureof530℃ and the rotational speedof1600 r/min. Low quality welds and a reduction of ultimate shear strength were observed at very high orlow rotational speeds and joining temperatures. The process, in conclusion, produced close mechanical properties to those of thebase metal and homogenous quality throughout the joint, when the intermediate temperature and rotational speeds were employed.

Effects of Processing Technologies on Mechanical Properties of SiC Particulate Reinforced Magnesium Matrix Composites

Mg matrix composites with SiC particles ranging from 5vol%-25vol% were prepared using stirring casting method. Die casting, squeezing casting, and extrusion were applied for inhibiting or eliminating the defects such as gas porosity and shrinkage void. Through die casting and squeezing casting, most of the defects in Mg matrix composites could be eliminated, but the mechanical properties were improved limitedly. On the other hand, after hot extrusion, not only most of the defects of as-cast composites ingots were eliminated, but also the mechanical properties were improved markedly. With the addition of SiC, the tensile strength, yield strength and elastic modulus of as extrusion SiCp/AZ61 composites increased remarkably, and the elongation decreased obviously.

Microstructural formation and mechanical performance of friction stir double-riveting welded Al-Cu joints

A novel friction stir double-riveting welding(FSDRW) technology was proposed in order to realize the high-quality joining of upper aluminum(Al) and lower copper(Cu) plates,and this technology employed a Cu column as a rivet and a specially designed welding tool with a large concave-angle shoulder. The formations, interfacial characteristics, mechanical properties and fracture features of Al/Cu FSDRW joints under different rotational velocities and dwell times were investigated. The results showed that the well-formed FSDRW joint was successfully obtained.The cylindrical Cu column was transformed into a double riveting heads structure with a Cu anchor at the top and an Al anchor at the bottom, thereby providing an excellent mechanical interlocking.The defect-free Cu/Cu interface was formed at the lap interface due to the sufficient metallurgical bonding between the Cu column and the Cu plate, thereby effectively inhibiting the propagation of crack from the intermetallic compound layer at the lap interface between the Al and Cu plates. The tensile shear load of joint was increased first and then decreased when the rotational velocity and dwell time of welding tool increased, and the maximum value was 5.52 k N. The FSDRW joint presented a mixed mode of ductile and brittle fractures.

Microstructure Evolution of Semi-solid Processed Hyper-eutectic Al-30%Si Alloy

An investigation was made on the influences of mechanical stirring on microstructure of hyper-eutectic Al-30%Si alloy (inmass fraction) during solidification. The primary Si crystals formed in the alloy melt were gradually changed from elongated platelets tonear-spherical shapes by mechanical stirring. The spheroidization of primary St crystals occurs by the mechanism of bending and fractureof Si platelets, wear and collision between Si crystals, and coalescence of small Si particles. The influence of under-cooling and coolingrate of the alloy melt on primary Si crystals of semi-solid processed alloys is investigated as well. The increase of under-cooling andcooling rate decreases the size of primary Si crystals.

Gas-Liquid Separation Processes for Mud Logging Systems

The TRU-Vision system,developed by Baker Hughes,analyzes the gas extracted from drilling mud to estimate the hydrocarbons composition in drilled rock formations.Several separation processes had been surveyed in order to enhance the gas extraction at the gas trap,namely,mechanical stirring,vacuum,air sparging,membrane separation processes,ultrasounds,and cyclones.Mechanical stirring devices(one propeller,one flat-blade turbine,and two baffles sets),a vacuum generator,and an air bubble generator were designed and assembled to increase the efficiency and the response stability of TRU-Vision system.